A trained agriculturalist, Mphoko is also a former military commander, was in charge of the logistics department of the Zimbabwe People’s Army during the liberation struggle.

The Russian-trained former ZIPRA freedom fighter was part of a five-member ZIPA Command that was a joint operation between Zanla and Zipra forces.

He was Zapu’s representative in Mozambique just before independence in 1980, working during that time with top African National Congress leaders like current South African president Jacob Zuma.

Mphoko also served as Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Botswana and Russia before moving to South Africa where his mission ended in 2011.

Former ZIPRA combatant, Retired Brigadier General Abel Mazinyane, said he worked with Mphoko in the ZIPRA ranks and the Zimbabwe People’s Army in Mozambique.

He said Mphoko also participated in joint operations that were conducted by ZIPRA combatants and Umkhonto Wesizwe of the African National Congress of South Africa during the liberation struggle of the 1970s.